Wharton reveals origins of the backflip!

First-team

18 Aug 2026

Amidst trophies, special European nights and plenty of other things to smile at in Spring 2026… Adam Wharton’s backflip certainly had plenty of Palace grinning away at Brentford!

The England international celebrated his first goal for Palace – in his 94th game for the club – back in May’s 2-2 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, pulling off an iconic acrobatic move in the London sunshine to delight millions of Eagles worldwide.

And Wharton, speaking on Behind the Palace, recently revealed the origins of that celebration – as well as discussing new Manager Pierre Sage’s system, and his favourite nights at Selhurst Park.

Packed full of relaxed Palace chat, games and quizzes, Behind the Palace is our brand-new show, giving a unique insight into the personalities behind the Eagles, with the first three episodes filmed in Germany last week.

You can watch Episode 2 in full below – with Episode 3 now also showing!

Sign up or Login to watch this video

“I did it once for Blackburn, and then saved it for special occasions!” Wharton laughed.

“I just had a trampoline in my garden and I used to just go on it all the time. I could do loads in a row, and then I remember I tried doing a cartwheel and then a handspring when I was maybe 10. When I started, I was going to the side, and then I got it straighter and straighter.

“I didn’t do it for ages – and then in lockdown I just tried it, and I could do it just about.

“Doing gym, then you can jump a little bit higher. But to be fair, it's just momentum. Everyone in the squad could pretty much do it, I reckon! You just don't know you can do it. But once you know you can do it…

“I think the last time I did it was in the season I joined [Palace], and I think it went on Twitter or something that [the players] were waiting for me to do it – and then one of the lads did it, and Ebs [Eze] was like: ‘can you actually do it?’ So I just did it after training one time!”

Quote Icons

When you really think about it, it's mad
—Adam Wharton

Wharton will be hoping to have further reasons to leap for joy, after being a key part of the Palace side which has won three trophies – the FA Cup, FA Community Shield and UEFA Conference League – in the last two seasons.

“I think when you say that now and think about it, it's quite mad!” Wharton admitted. “But when you just think about it normally, it's like… I don't know. It just happens!

“The season starting now… that [the Conference League Final] was two months ago. Even the FA Cup and the Community Shield, that's a year ago.

"When you really think about it, it's mad. Especially just for the club, it's unreal. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Wharton and his teammates will now target further silverware under new Manager Pierre Sage, with the midfielder reflecting on pre-season: “It’s been a bit of a change.

“It’s the same sort of system. That's sort of similar, but different ways of playing in-possession, out-of-possession, and different ways of training.

“It’s intense. It's been tough, which it has to be in pre-season to get you back up to fitness and match sharpness.

“It’s been good with the new staff and getting to know them, their ways of going about training, analysis and everything behind the scenes… it's a good change.”

Wharton was also asked about his favourite nights at Selhurst Park, and picked out three contenders.

“Fiorentina [the 3-0 Palace win] was good,” he noted. “The European nights were good last year.

“I don't know why, but I remember the first season I came in, we played Newcastle at home. We won 2-0.

“We just started pressing, and we just kept pressing, and the crowd were just on us, and we just kept pressing. We were meant to sit off, but we just kept pressing. The gaffer at half-time was like, ‘I don't know how you're still pressing!’, but we just kept going. You felt so tight, but you just kept running. That was top.

“And the 4-0 win over [Manchester] United. That was good!”

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Related News

More News

Wharton reveals origins of the backflip!

First-team

18 Aug 2026

Amidst trophies, special European nights and plenty of other things to smile at in Spring 2026… Adam Wharton’s backflip certainly had plenty of Palace grinning away at Brentford!

You can watch Episode 2 in full below – with Episode 3 now also showing!

Sign up or Login to watch this video

“I did it once for Blackburn, and then saved it for special occasions!” Wharton laughed.

“I didn’t do it for ages – and then in lockdown I just tried it, and I could do it just about.

Quote Icons

When you really think about it, it's mad
—Adam Wharton

“I think when you say that now and think about it, it's quite mad!” Wharton admitted. “But when you just think about it normally, it's like… I don't know. It just happens!

“The season starting now… that [the Conference League Final] was two months ago. Even the FA Cup and the Community Shield, that's a year ago.

"When you really think about it, it's mad. Especially just for the club, it's unreal. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Wharton and his teammates will now target further silverware under new Manager Pierre Sage, with the midfielder reflecting on pre-season: “It’s been a bit of a change.

“It’s the same sort of system. That's sort of similar, but different ways of playing in-possession, out-of-possession, and different ways of training.

“It’s intense. It's been tough, which it has to be in pre-season to get you back up to fitness and match sharpness.

“It’s been good with the new staff and getting to know them, their ways of going about training, analysis and everything behind the scenes… it's a good change.”

Wharton was also asked about his favourite nights at Selhurst Park, and picked out three contenders.

“Fiorentina [the 3-0 Palace win] was good,” he noted. “The European nights were good last year.

“I don't know why, but I remember the first season I came in, we played Newcastle at home. We won 2-0.

“And the 4-0 win over [Manchester] United. That was good!”

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Related News

More News